Opera House opens its doors to the public

Historic Tipp City Opera House opens its doors to the public

The Tippecanoe Historical Society sponsored a special Ohio Open Doors event at Tipp City’s historic Opera House on Wednesday, September 16. The Richards family allowed visitors to step inside and view one of downtown Tipp City’s most significant historic landmarks. Following the self-guided tour, guests were invited to visit Chaffee’s Brewhouse, located downstairs, for complimentary coffee and pastries.

The Opera House and the Chaffee Building are part of the same historic property, located at 28– 34 East Main Street. The original two-story building was constructed around 1840 and purchased by local businessman Sidney Chaffee in 1852. Chaffee later enlarged the building upward and westward, creating Chaffee’s Hall. The hall opened in 1867 and eventually became known as Chaffee’s Opera House.

At its height, the hall reportedly seated between 600 and 800 people. For decades, it was an important center of entertainment and community life. Residents gathered there to enjoy plays, concerts, recitals, traveling shows and other public programs. In the years before radio, television and modern entertainment venues, the Opera House offered local families a place to experience performers and productions that might otherwise have been available only in larger cities.

The building’s usefulness extended well beyond theatrical performances. At different times, the Opera House served as a roller-skating rink, graduation hall, basketball court and meeting place for community organizations. Although its final theatrical performance was held in 1913, the building continued to play an important role in Tipp City life.

Through the years, the ground-floor spaces housed a variety of stores, offices and restaurants, as well as a bowling alley and an early motion-picture theater. Today, the Chaffee Building remains an important part of Tipp City’s downtown streetscape and continues to welcome the public through businesses such as Chaffee’s Brewhouse.

The Ohio Open Doors events gave residents and visitors an opportunity to discover the stories behind historic buildings and special places in their own communities. The September 16 event offered a rare chance to see the Opera House, imagine the crowds who once gathered there and learn more about the building’s long and varied history.